An uncommonly clever, insightful, and funny voice of reason* in all this multiple sclerosis silliness

Monday, August 22, 2011

Going MS drug free: the flawed arguments

If you have relapse remitting multiple sclerosis, there are many legitimate reasons not to take disease modifying drugs (DMDs) for your MS. You are allergic and/or your body cannot physically tolerate any of the available medications. You cannot afford DMDs because you have no insurance and are ineligible for any of the multitude of patient assistance programs. You’ve tried every drug available to you and participated in clinical trials and still, despite throwing even the kitchen sink complete with garbage disposal, your neurologist feels that the drugs are having no effect … and a second opinion supports your neuro. And, hmm. Oh, by many reasons, I meant only three. And they aren’t terribly common.

Which makes me scratch my head as to why an estimated 43% of people with RRMS are not on any form of DMD therapy. For decades, neurologists and those afflicted with MS had been pleading, begging, for any sort of treatment. Anything. Finally, two decades ago, DMDs arrived and have effectively changed the direness of a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Ask your neurologist if he or she has seen a difference in the level of disability of their patients before and after DMDs became available, and the answer universally will be yes. And they’ll say that that difference has been dramatic. Which is why neurologists—each of whom have dedicated themselves to a professional career to become a specialist to help you—understandably are frustrated when their patients say no thanks to treatments.

If they can’t convince you, how can I convince you?

I could tell you that damage is being done while you are reading this sentence. That your brain is shrinking. That axonal loss is happening. And that these problems are irreversible and research has shown that it starts happening at the earliest stages of the disease, even while your symptoms are mild or nonexistent. But I won’t.

I could remind you that while MS treatments have side effects, most are easily manageable. That the devastating side effects this disease effortlessly can deliver are infinitely worse. But I won’t.

I could urge you to spend an afternoon volunteering at your local nursing home to help care for someone with MS. To bathe them, dress them, feed them, change their catheter, wipe their bottom, and then start all over again. But I won’t.

I could educate you about the countless studies, endless research, and copious analysis that have shown DMDs to generally have a positive influence on this disease, preventing relapses, slowing the accumulation of brain lesions, delaying the start of secondary progression, and perhaps postponing disability. But I won’t.

I could tell you that taking injections isn’t that hard after the first few, even for someone who is so afraid of needles that he has to leave the room when any medical TV show come on. But I won’t.

I could remind you that for hundreds of years, the only thing people could do for their multiple sclerosis was to change their diet, take herbal remedies, and swallow vitamins. That those treatments didn’t slow the disease then and that there is no solid evidence they slow it now. But I won’t.

I could warn you not to base your entire decision on how to treat your MS on a handful of vocal drug-free cheerleaders on the internet (who all are doing great!). But I won’t.

I could say all these things. Heck, I’ve tried. This has been written and rewritten (and edited and then edited again) for the past five years. Over 20 pages and 8,000 words. But each time I would have to stop and start over. Too preachy. Too snarky. Too criticizing. Too scary. Meh, whatever. I’ve finally come to the realization that in all likelihood nothing I say will change your mind. That my droning on only will make you resent reading this more and inspire a personal Voodoo doll menagerie of mini Daves (locks of hair provided upon request). After all, you have your arguments.

“It’s my life—it’s my call. I’m comfortable with my decision not to take drugs.” Fair enough. I want you print this out, put it in a safe location, and in 10 years dig it out. Are you still happy with your decision? Are the people you are closest to who are likely your caregivers—your spouse, children, parents, brothers, sisters—still happy with your decision? “I’m waiting for better treatments like chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and stem cells.” But while you wait for treatments that may or may not work, MS is doing its malicious work oh-so silently, increasing your level of disability, and, ironically, making it less likely the promising treatments of the future will be able to help you.

I also hear arguments that are curious. “I’ve taken Drug X for so many years and I’ve decided it doesn’t work because I don’t feel better.” Does your neuro agree? Remember, the current available drugs don’t reverse disability; they just slow down this progressive disease. Who’s to say it wouldn’t have progressed far faster without your DMDs. (It also should be noted that if you feel your drug isn’t working, that means by association that the combination of your special diet, expensive supplements and unique exercise routine isn’t working either—there’s no way separate the successes or failures of the two. So are you going to quit all of those too?) “I’ve taken Drug Y for years and I’m going off all DMDs because of the miserable side effects.” Why would someone stick with one drug for years feeling crummy? And then just stop altogether without trying any others? Oh right, because of the not-so-popular mantra “If at first you don’t succeed, uh, quit.”

And I hear arguments that push the boundaries of common sense. “I’m fine if I’m in a wheelchair later as long as I can have a medication-free life now.” This is a person who really doesn’t grasp the power of this disease, which can rain down far crueler punishments than a chair with wheels. Blindness, deafness, inability to swallow, inability to feel, inability to comprehend even a sentence. “I don’t want to be tied to medications for the rest of my life.” Huh? The whole point of these medications is to delay progression so you won’t need as many meds to treat all of the complications this disease eventually brings to most of us. “I don’t want my kids to see me suffer from the medication side effects.” What? So you would prefer your kids to see you suffer from the disease itself?

All right, some of my comments might seem over the top and I apologize. It’s just maddening the lengths people will go to try to justify not treating a treatable disease. Contrary to all the well-meaning folks on the internet who wax that the decision of whether or not to take DMDs is so hard (and always so personal), all the evidence points to a rather easy answer. This isn’t deciding on that grueling third round of chemotherapy to extend your life maybe an extra few months so you can see the birth of your grandchild. This is about taking drugs—even though they are expensive and don’t work perfectly—that may delay disease progression, reduce relapses and postpone secondary progression.

Whoa, Dave, didn't a 5-year Canadian study released in 2012 find that the "administration of interferon beta was not associated with a reduction in the progression of disability"? Yup. But that looked at just one class of drug. And a similarly large 10-year Italian study, released weeks earlier, found that "the risk of secondary progression was significantly lower in patients treated with DMDs" and that "DMDs significantly reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis progression." Then a 12-year Swedish study, released after these two, concluded that "there was a longer time to SP in the contemporary subjects given DMD." Who to trust? Instead of putting all of your disbelieving eggs into one study's basket, perhaps look at the bigger picture (and beyond the now questionable interferons if you prefer). There are today many drugs—and more in the pipeline—that may help you keep living the life you want to live with typically only modest side effects. One of my neurologists makes a key point: MS is now a lot like hypertension and diabetes. Neither of those disorders can be cured and both cause lots of complications and disabilities (stroke, heart disease, neuropathy, vision loss, etc). But they can be managed and most people can live with those disorders if treated.

Here’s the bottom line. Many people can enjoy pretty normal lives with MS, short of a cure, with treatment. I look at taking MS medication a bit like wearing your seatbelt. Yes, there are cases where the seatbelt will never be needed over the course of your lifetime—where the MS remains at bay even without therapy—but those tend to be the exception. And true, in the rarest of cases, wearing a seatbelt could do more harm than good. But that’s like saying broccoli could kill you… if you asphyxiate on it and no one is around to do the Heimlich and you just sold all your dining room chairs on Craigslist and you have no furniture left to flop on in order to do a self de-choking maneuver. What I’m saying is that statistically wearing your seatbelt and taking your MS meds (heck even eating your broccoli) will help you. And it could absolutely save your life—or at least your quality of life.

In the years that I’ve been running ActiveMSers—I started the website when I was diagnosed in 2006—I’ve met in person and online thousands of people with multiple sclerosis. And not one has ever told me that they regretted taking a disease modifying drug. Not one. But I’ve met lots who wonder what life would have been like if only they had just not given up so quickly. If only they had just started taking those medications earlier. If only they had just tried, tried, taking DMDs to begin with. The saddest part for me is hearing from those desperate to get onto an exciting clinical trial (like the one I am on, which has saved my life) only to discover that they don't qualify. And why not? Often the most aggressive, cutting-edge trials require that the patient must have failed at least one or two FDA-approved therapies first.

Now I can’t promise that DMDs will work for you. But I can promise that with this disease, you never want to start a sentence with “if only…” As someone with relapse remitting MS, you have a rare wealth of treatment options, while those with secondary and primary progressive MS tragically have virtually none. Please take advantage of them while you can. The longer you can keep your disease in the relapse-remitting phase the better—indeed it could change your entire future. You alone have the power to take charge of your multiple sclerosis. So (wo)man up and do it.

What a great article. This was so timely for me. I have tried several of the meds and am currently on Tysabri. However I am still getting lesions and progressing. There is no way I will stop because of the possibility of it slowing the progression. I sure don't want to stop and look back next year and say I should have stayed on my meds.

Becky, Anon—I'm glad to see this post is making a difference. I've already gotten e-mails, too, with people calling their docs to start (or restart) treatment. I just wish those with PPMS and SPMS had more options. Keep moving forward!

Dave, Hi, I am one of those you mentioned that have PPMS and, therefor, have really no FDA sanctioned treatment options. I guess, being in the minority, as far as being in about the 15% of the MS population gets you 'bupkis'. But I find your blog on the DMD's really strong and thank you for not 'sugar-coating' this stuff. I can tell you , without any reservations, if a case could be made for me to take Copaxone or Tysabri, I would do it until I found that it was doing my health harm or no effect at all, which is common. I go to just about every MS info dinner in my area and listen to the neurologists give their findings from their clinical work and there is never any mention of HSCT. I know its out there. I can name some of the patients who have had the treatment. I am sure you know who some of these people are. But it still remains a secret to the majority of us who battle this 'beast ' every day. Thank you and George Goss for your very vocal support. Any info you disseminate gives all of us 'hope'. And that's saying alot!! Jerry

Thank you so much for this post! I was diagnosed about 2 years ago and have been on Avonex ever since. It's terribly expensive and I've often wondered if I should stop it, and have been told by others that I should 'stop this expensive drug' and try 'alternative treatments like yoga and ayurveda', and of course the people who tell you 'I know this lady who had the same problem- she went to a vedic doctor, and now she's perfectly fine'.I know that they are not the ones who have to live with the disease and when I go blind or am in a wheelchair because I haven't taken medication- they are not going to be the ones who will even push my wheelchair.

Anon—I have no reservations about CAM therapies... if they are affordable (or free) and don't take the place of therapies that have been proven to work in clinical trials. Keep it up! And Jerry, you already know how I feel about PPMS. It's maddening how tricky it is to manage. While HSCT might not be the answer, at least it fuels hope. Hang in there.

Thank you for this post. I'm still not clinically definite (that will probably change soon) and I have resisted medication. Your post exposed most of my wilful blindness around this issue. Basically if I don't take drugs for it, it isn't happening - right?

Anon—No one likes to be on meds. But the FDA-approved MS treatments do help. And just to be clear, the stem cell transplant is working for me, present tense. As with everything MS, tomorrow is hard to predict.

Hi Dave. Thank you for taking the time to publish this post. It's clear that you are really passionate about people with an MS diagnosis staying as well as possible, and encouraging people to face the diagnosis they have been given. That is a refreshing approach! I agree with you that MS is an illness that can be treated, and I have some other ideas about how that should be done :-)

I am one of those who has chosen not to take any medication, and 2.5 years since diagnosis and a very serious and lengthy episode, am doing really well and am moving steadily towards having better health than I have ever had. I firmly believe that this is not an act of chance or that I have 'benign MS', as I have worked extremely diligently to take my health in the right direction. I believe that the main reason that I became ill in the first place was due to extreme stress and emotional strain in my life. In the last 2.5 years, my approach to getting well has been manifold and based on extensive research. I have focussed on the following things: dramatic reduction in stress; diet change (low sat. fat, dairy free, largely gluten free); tackling of emotional issues that were causing strain; learning to show proper care for myself; taking exercise when possible; treatment for CCSVI; taking vitamin d3 & other supplements; believing that I could get well; faith in a healing God. I have followed to quite a close degree the recommendations of George Jelinek's book, Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis.

I chose not to take medication, as I believe that to treat something that you are unsure of what is causing it, with large amounts of drugs, is not the best approach. Our bodies are designed to heal themselves, and I think that if we provide the correct environment for them to do that, that they will. Stress is the number one cause of illness and the number one compromiser of our immune systems, and I believe that any approach to treatment that does not take this into consideration is misguided. I must add that I also think it is misguided to decide not take drugs while not doing anything else to combat MS either! I believe that facing the diagnosis head on and creating a strategy to tackle it is absolutely vital.

I have met a considerable number of people who chose to take DMDs and disimproved rapidly while taking them, chose to come off them, and say they will never take them again.

I believe that there is a lot of hope for people diagnosed with MS, and that finding the root cause of why you got sick, and addressing that, is the solution to regaining health and staying well.

For some reason, I missed this post when I first discovered your blog a few months ago. I am on LDN right now. I know its not an FDA approved DMD and I am closely monitoring my progress or decline since I started the drug in spring 2011. I was diagnosed three years ago this month and started Copaxone with horrible side effects for four months solid - daily. I could not exercise and power lift- the one thing that keeps me feeling alive when I was on it the drug. Avonex made me want to stick a knife through my head and jump off the Burnside Bridge.

I have to think about how miserable DMDs made my life in the present. I never did well on any kind of drugs, I don't even take OTC pain meds so this is foreign to me. I know its a conundrum and catch-22. Trust me, I am considering my options on a daily basis.

I love and agree with everything you've said. Thank you! I sometimes feel like I have to defend my decision to take Copaxone. There are people who truly believe that "Big Pharma" (I hate that term!) is only there to profit from our illness so why would they want to honestly help us. These same people have the same opinion of doctors. I've had to argue that I am not putting "poison" into my body-seriously! At first, having to have these discussions upset me, now I've chosen to let them strengthen me. The harder they push, the harder I push back. Now, if I could only find someone or something to push me to workout more..... ;)

Wonderful post. I'm recently Dx'd and read everything I can about treatments past, present, and future. My conclusion was that it's absolutely foolish not to take a DMD. I've been wondering why nobody else was saying that outloud. And now you basically have. Thanks.

I agree about the importance of treating MS. I have been on Tysabri for 64 infusions and have past the outer limits of the clinical trials for safety and efficacy of the drug, but I won't stop until I am forced to or something better comes along. I have long said give me 5 good years over 30 crappy ones.

The only part of the article I had a question about was your statement all of the DMD's lower the disability progression. Where is that study? Almost all of the ones I see talk about reductions in enhancing lesions with a few on slowing the shrinking of our brains. I always question this because Tysabri has done a great job keeping me from having any flares as determined by multiple MRI tests. However, I still have new symptoms and new pains from MS. This makes me question the reliance on MRI scans to say a given drug is or is not working. Are their stats on disability progression on each drug?

Don't get me wrong. On Copaxone, the only exercise I did was row on a rowing machine because my balance was terrible. On the rowing machine I would only fall 6 inches. Now I am out running and recently ran a 15k. Tysabri has exceeded my expectations, and I would recommend it to anyone with MS if it is an option for them. Even being JC+, the odds of getting PML are still lower than the mortality rate of breast cancer patients getting chemo after a successful mastectomy (note I believe this is suggested for them as it lowers their long term cancer mortality rate).

TLWL, there are a number. A recently published study by Italian researchers (title: Immunomodulatory therapies delay disease progression in multiple sclerosis) found in 1,178 patients with RRMS that "the risk of secondary progression was significantly lower in patients treated with DMDs" and concluded that "DMDs significantly reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis progression both in patients with initial high-risk and patients with initial low-risk. These findings reinforce the role of DMDs in modifying the natural course of the disease, suggesting that they have a positive effect not only on the inflammatory but also on the neurodegenerative process." Here is a link to the full abstract on our forums.http://activemsers.wssnoc.net/showthread.php?t=959

Dave love ur post I was diagnosed 2 yrs and a few mo ago... when I was first diagnosed I was put on copaxone, the side effects weren't that bad plus they seemed to get better as time went by... after a year of taking copaxone I did not notice the meds were working for me I was still very fatigue, sleepy, tired, numb, I was experiencing a lot of dificulties walking, and spent more time on the floor than on my two feet. :) I had my yearly MRI done and the doctor found that I had new lesions and my MS was very active so he put me on Rebif. I HATED IT!!! The side effects were awfull nd I just redmdember crying to my neurologist telling him how much I hated this med... all I remember him saying was "I know its horrible,but u got to chew on a bullet a little" I guess he was right it took me an entire year of taking rebif and sucking up to the side effects to realize that there was a reason for why he said what he said... I was on rebif for a year and a few months, I can now walk (2 miles on a tredmill) I'm pain free and not the same way as I was a year or two ago.. I been off rebif for two weeks now because I'm going to try to have a baby, but to be honest I am now very affraid of beeing off the meds...

Ps. My last MRI showed no new lesions nd my MS is not active at the moment :-)

Thanks Dave. The fact is, there are no facts regarding whether the DMDs reduce disability at all. Yes, they are proven to reduce exacerbations and MRI activity. However long term studies failed to show they make any difference in the long run. So your arguments make sense, but only if the DMDs actually do anything. That's an important if.

Understood, Alex. There was that one Canadian study that called older DMDs into question (conflicting with an Italian study that found the opposite). But then a large Swedish study released late in 2012 concluded that those same DMDs did actually delay secondary progression. Putting off SPMS is critical, as the biggest advances in MS research are focused on the easier-to-treat relapsing phase. Here's a link to the abstract: http://activemsers.wssnoc.net/showthread.php?t=1126

Thanks Dave, just found your blog and so glad to see someone speak out on this subject. I also see daily attacks from some med free folks on the evils of big pharma and greedy nueros. I respect that going med free is a personal decision, but as these seem to be the most vocal folks out there on the subject, I worry that alot of MSers don't get the needed info on the benifits of DMD's.

Great post. It definetly hits home with me as I am currently on the fence about wether to continue with DMDs or try without them. I can not take the Interferons - I have an adverse reaction to them that makes it seem as if I'm progressing rapidly, though there are no new lesions and when I stopped them all of the new symptoms went away. I have been on Copaxone for a year. I have welts that don't go away for weeks. Between the skin discoloration from the shots and the 3+ long week welts I am running out of places to inject. So now is the choice of moving to the pill options (which all scare me) or trying my luck with strict diet, exercise and LDN without any DMDs. You make good points and I have a lot to consider before making my decision.

I've just come off avonex after 5 years, and am in the washout stage trying to decide if I should start tecfidera or not.

My flu-like symptoms never ceased (though they improved) and I only now realise how horrible avonex was for my mood. The only reason I stuck with it (and the pulse steroids, and the cyclophosphamide) was my fear that if I didn't take the medication offered, if I didn't DO something, my disease and its progression would somehow be my fault.

I try not to regret anything, given the advantaged of hindsight, but I do wish I'd stopped avonex sooner, and I'm leaning toward not starting tecfidera. If people chose not to take a treatment, knowing the benefits and risks as much as they can - for whatever reason - I think they should be supported. Everyone is different in what they will tolerate, what is important to them. We cannot say the medication isn't helping for sure, but we can't really say it is in a particular case either.

Anon, I know where you are coming from. And after all of the research I've read in just the last year, I am more enthused than ever to kick a little tail in this department. So glad that my foot got introduced to your ass.

Dave -Your blog was/is great. Your point of view on this topic is spot on.

However, I just can not do it; please forgive me. I am now 51 years old; ever since I was 11 years old, my health has been doing insane, crazy things, progressively getting worse. And I was diagnosed with PPMS in 1988. Every single time I have introduced a new medication to my body, crazy things happen. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I want to spend at least a little bit of time with my wife, kids, and grandkids- I don't want to spend my entire life in a hospital throwing up, getting hives, being dizzy. I met the Lord once when I was in a coma for two weeks; He told me He wanted me to go back to Earth because I wasn't finished down here; after I woke up from the coma, I had to learn how to walk again.

I have created my own PPMS clinical trial. So, I am doing SOMETHING. Actually the clinical trial that I invented for myself isn't all that original - I am following the recommendations of George Jelinek's book, Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis.

I've been following this post since it was posted a few years ago and so much have changed since I've read this. I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease 15 months ago after having lived with and treated my MS - diagnosed almost 6 years ago.

Juggling two chronic illnesses is a full time job. Since the Lyme is much more urgent (and probably caused the lesions in my brain) and time consuming to treat, I've been focused on that. Between the drugs, the shots, bottles of xyz Rx, doctors appointments, support groups, etc. I'm out of time.

Its intereseting to read this entry, and makes me wonder if Ive made the right choice. However, there a few hard facts:

- Big pharma has until very much recently severly limited all research that is not geared towards the patenting of new drugs. Look at the initiarl results (that were consequently never followed up on) on Inosine, or high doses of Omega 3, or even Dr Cicero Coimbras success with a high dose vitamin d protocol, or even LDN for that matter.

- There are just as many studies showing lack of efficacy of the CRABs, as studies showing benefits of CRABs.

- There are several other lifestyle factors that in my opinion go a long way to help slow or stop progress: stress reduction, exercise, diet (low sat fat, no dairy or gluten, very healthy eating), rest, heavy metal detoxing, supplements, etc. However changing these is not always that straight forward, for many its far more "viable" to simply take the meds without manking any additional changes, that is a mistake. And of course, lifestlye changes require a lot of time and money.

- Its hard to accept that drugs can be ultimately effective for a disease that still has an unknown cause. However i believe they do benefit some people very clearly, but just as many they actually make things worse.

Im personally CIS for MS and have been for almost two years. Ive always said to the neuros that if i had advance in brain lesions or more relapses, than id start medication. HOwever one needs to look at lifestly changes you need to make: i had to greatly improve sleep, stress and nutrition, as they all needed a lot of improvemente.

I also take plenty of vitamin D daily and LDN.

I hope I stay this way, but if anything what all patients need to remember is that the DMDs are never the only solution. But for many it is an easy first call. In my opinion It takes a lot more dedication to make profound lifestyle changes than it does to inject yourself daily.

Hello All. I'm newly diagnosed 3 weeks ago. I understand some of the acronyms, but most are like like reading Greek. I have not begun any meds yet, but plan on starting Copaxone and LDN soon. Has anyone used a combo of drugs? I'm happy I found this page so soon. Thank you! - Troy

I want to hug you. I do. I really do. You said everything I want to say to these people. And to those people who have typed "I'm doing fine, I'm eating xxx" ...while you are writing that, your brain just shrank..

Hi Dave,Great blog post and I understand and agree with your point of view on whether to take or not to take DMD's. I received my official diagnosis yesterday and my neurologist wants to me consider taking meds and have an answer ready for my follow up 2 weeks from now.

Maybe it's denial, but I am still not 100% convinced that what I am experiencing is MS. I honestly don't have an issue if it actually is MS…it is what it is and I'm fine with that however, without going into details, there are just a couple of dots that aren't connecting for me and so I am exploring alternate diagnosis and I think I will go see a second opinion. In the end it probably is MS, I just want to exhaust all resources and options first.

Hence my question for you is…what if its not MS? I would love to hear your take on taking DMD's prophylactically only to find out down the road that it's not MS. What are your thoughts on any damage/side effects that could possibly unnecessarily occur?

Also, what are your thoughts on pill form vs injection. Does your experience or knowledge support one method of DMD over the other? (Naturally I prefer to not be pricked with a needle again and again).

Hey Clint, rarely does every box get checked with an MS diagnosis and errors do happen. But time is key, and treatments work most effectively early in the disease. New research has shown that even if a patient waits a few years to start treatment, the outcome in general is dramatically worse. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/sep/30/multiple-sclerosis-experts-call-for-end-to-wait-and-see-approach-to-treatment

And you are not alone in the whole "are you sure it's MS doc?" Many of us diagnosed, including myself, were convinced it was something else--a pinched nerve, Lyme disease, a tumor, etc. Going down that path is normal. And who knows, you may be right. Worth pursuing.

As for MS drugs, these days I'm more bullish on being aggressive. The injectibles, while effective and quite safe, lack the pop of other oral and infusion meds. But as you know, the more aggressive you go, the higher the risk of complications. Tough call. But I do recommend starting on something. Good luck and hang in there!

Neuro letter stated- Lots of small white matter changes throughout brain, caused by inflammation mabey MS as discussed! I felt this letter to be really blunt, I now have a quicker follow up appointment. The question I have is, does lots of small white matter changes actually mean lesions or what? I sort of know the answer to this due to medical history and symptoms but just wish he wrote it more clearly!Thanks

Coco, LPs are a good diagnostic tool and having gotten several, they sound a lot scarier than they actually are. But that said, they still freak me out. Pretty much everybody is freaked out beforehand. You can do it, tho!

Anonymous, thank you for posting that part. I knew it was somewhere inside of me. I just didn't know what to call it. It's another face of denial. Your post really brought it to light so thanks again!!

interferons cause blood damage, liver damage thyroid problems (in some cases thyroid cancer)you decide if it's worth the 20 to 70 k per year to get poisoned or you change the food you eatread about the Roy Swank study and diet.Early life changes do not start until two to 5 years after starting the diet.clinical trials were one year only and of cause not long enough to reproduce Swank's findings.I am getting better after doing Swank diet.I will never go into a wheelchair because of MS.

Anon, there are many other MS treatments out there aside from interferons if using them concerns you. Incidentally, your body makes interferons, so that particular type of treatment is truly an "organic" MS drug. Most people are unaware of that.

Great Essay,I just want to add my two cents as an experienced scoffer. I was diagnosed with RR MS in 2004 with just two lesions. I did go on Avonex, the newest at the time. It was two harsh for me and after a trip to the ER, I swore all MS drugs. I was lucky, I went four years without progression, then I was hit with a attack that cause 18 lesions over the course of one year in the cognitive part of the brain. Had no idea at that time that MS caused cognitive damage. Spent the better part of 5 years rehabbing after losing everything, job, school scholarships, direct care of my 9 year old daughter, home, and bankruptcy. I went on Copaxone and had no further attacks for two years. I moved to Canada from the US for family reasons and lost my funding for Copaxone for three years. I had a doctor who would not approve me for the drug with the excuse that I had to have had two back to back attacks in the last two years. So, during those three years in the latter two years, I began having attacks in the form of existing damage (my leg and stamina) getting progressively worse and a number of trips to the ER. This doctor refused to call these attacks because it wasn't new damage. I fought to change doctors and got one of the most experienced in Calgary and a one of the foremost researchers on MS treatment out there. He got me back on Copaxone immediately. I am beginning my second year back on the drug and the attacks have stopped. I wonder what could've happened if I had only gone on copaxone after the disaster with avonex which is tolerated by others, all those years ago, if I could've avoided the horror show that happened in 2009. Thanks for the article, very important

Very good article and much food for thought. I got dxd in June of 2015 after a couple short spells of double vision and unsteady gate--all of which I thought was garden variety vertigo. I went to my PCP and he ordered an MRI and MRA and I was shocked to learn it was MS. Saw a neuro and have been on Tecfidera until about 2 weeks ago. My bloodwork came back with low WBC's, Minocytes and Lymphs. I was coming down with a cold or flu at the time so it's possible this could have caused the bloodwork issue. My neuro took me off the Tec until I recover and get the bloodwork repeated. I am still 100% asymptomatic. I just had an MRI today with no new lesions in the brain but a tiny one in the neck, however, they are all inactive and I am still asymptomatic. Had I ignored the symptoms in 2015 and let them pass as they quickly did, I wouldn't even know I had MS. I was thinking of NOT going back on the Tec at all but your article has given me a lot to think about. Of course, this depends on my bloodwork bouncing back into normal range. Thanks for the great info and many thought provoking statements.

Hey Marlow, thanks for the note. Research has shown that current MS medications are far more effective early in the disease. Glad you are considering continuing treatment. You can't get this opportunity back.

Anon, in my first paragraph I discuss the financial challenges of paying for these medications. Have you gone directly to each drug company to ask for financial assistance? They often offer medications with zero copay for those with undue financial hardship. Good luck.

I was diagnosed with RRMS in 2006 too, have taken Betaseron and Rebif in the past, but haven't taken anything since 2010. My balance and movility have declined and my neurologist wants me to take Tecfidera. Do you think Tecfidera could help?

So what do you suggest when your wife has tried a slew of these medicines, from Avonex, Aubagio, Copaxone, tecifera, etc and now trying Rebif and the side effects are so debilitating that she can't get to work? From constant flu like symptoms to upset stomach to the copaxone thing where she thought she was having a heart attack. She shy's away from the few that are leading to PML for some people as she is JC virus positive. The best she ever felt was when she wasn't on anything, eating a super healthy diet and taking physical therapy 3 times per week until the insurance cut us off on that too! She's been on the medicines I mentioned above for pretty long periods of time, some for years before a reactions or symptoms become to extreme that the doctors move her to a different one. Hoping rebif is the one, but so far it's not looking too promising. She's had to stop exercising for the last few weeks as she has no energy and always feels sick. Her life is now spent on the couch.

Anon, that's frustrating. Has she tried Gilenya, Lemtrada, Ocrevus? With the exception of long-time Tysabri use (while JC+), the likelihood of PML with MS drugs is relatively low, e.g., I've seen figures of 1 in 10,000 for Gilenya. That might seem high to some, but there are risks with every treatment decision, including forgoing treatment. Best of luck and keep me posted. Hope your wife finds something that works.

WHAT A GREAT MIRACLE THAT I HAVE EVER SEE IN MY LIFE. My names are DavidClara I’m a citizen of United Kingdom, My younger sister was sicking ofbreast cancer and her name is David Sandra I and my family have taking herto all kind of hospital in UK still yet no good result. I decided to go tothe internet and search for cancer cure so that was how I find a ladycalled peter Lizzy she was testifies to the world about the goodness of aherbal man who has the root and half to cure all kind of disease and theherbal man email was there. So I decided to contact the herbal man for myyounger sister help to cure her breast cancer. I contacted him and told himmy problem he told me that I should not worry that my sister cancer will becure, he told me that there is a medicine that he is going to give me thatI will cook it and give it to my sister to drink for one week, so I ask howcan I receive the cure that I am in UK, he told me

That I will pay for the delivery service. The courier service cantransport it to me so he told me the amount I will pay, so my dad paid forthe delivery fee. two days later I receive the cure from the courierservice so I used it as the herbal man instructed me to, before the weekcomplete my sister cancer was healed and it was like a dream to me notknowing that it was physical I and my family were very happy about themiracle of Doctor so my dad wanted to pay him 5 million us dollars theherbal man did not accept the offer from my dad, but I don't know why hedidn't accept the offer, he only say that I should tell the world about himand his miracle he perform so am now here to tell the world about him ifyou or your relative is having any kind of disease that you can't get fromthe hospital please contact dr.sakuraspellalter@gmail.com or whatsapp him+2348110114739 <+234%20811%20011%204739> for the cure, he will help you out with theproblem. And if you need more information about the doctor you can mail medavidclara223@gmail.com or whatsApp me +1(6)31906022

Visit ActiveMSers

About the Blog

This is the official blog of ActiveMSers, which is designed to help, motivate, and inspire those with multiple sclerosis to stay as active as possible—physically, intellectually, and socially—regardless of physical limitations. It is written by founder Dave Bexfield and was started in 2006. Topics include: getting diagnosed, dealing with symptoms, staying active, and hope. Laughter is always encouraged.

About Me

For better or worse, I’ve learned a lot about handling this disease (um, more than many) since I was diagnosed in ’06. And I’ve written about that experience here, where I take a personal look at MS … with a tilted head, raised eyebrow, and a cracked smile. It may be just what the doc ordered when you want an escape from the oh-so-serious world that is multiple sclerosis. (To read more about me, click the About Dave on the left of my blog home page.)